Local historians and public officials say that Milwaukee is differentiated from Chicago by its cultural diversity and its affordable entertainment. But many others believe that it is undeniable that Milwaukee is often overshadowed by its southern neighbor Chicago. The flashpoint in this debate is whether extending Chicago's Metra commuter train to Milwaukee would take away from the city's identity.

It is commonly believed that extending the Kenosha Metra line would improve Milwaukee tourism. According to Alderman Bob Bauman, whose Fourth Aldermanic District includes Marquette, and a recent article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, many people from Chicago and northern Illinois are buying lake- and riverfront summer homes in Milwaukee. Also, Bauman said he thinks that many people who live in the northern suburbs of Chicago will take this Metra instead of driving to Chicago in order to save money on a gas, entertainment and parking.

"Milwaukee's economy would benefit tremendously," Bauman said.

City historians and tourist directors believe that this will improve Milwaukee's identity and focus on its differences, rather than make it a northern Chicago suburb.

"Chicago is such a big city … the skyline alone is so different from Milwaukee," said Elizabeth Russell, the Milwaukee County Historical Society's director of public relations. "Milwaukee has much more of a cozy feel."

Dave Fantle, Visit Milwaukee's vice president of public relations, said Milwaukee's identity is marked by its "ease, comfort and friendliness."

"Milwaukee offers many of the same amenities as Chicago, but on a smaller scale," said Michael Gordon, associate professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "It's a very comfortable place to live."

Gordon said he doesn't think that extending the Metra will alter identity of either city, but will actually improve Milwaukee's economy. According to Gordon, Milwaukee has been in economic shock since the 1970s when many manufacturing jobs were lost because factories moved to other parts of the U.S. or to other countries where production would be less expensive.

"Milwaukee's still struggling to gain the economic vitality the city once had," Gordon said.

Sources agree that extending the Metra is one of the best ways to do that.

"Milwaukee is always improving, and evolving," Fantle said. "We want people to come and visit."

Still, not everyone is convinced.

"Chicago is the really big elephant in the Midwest tent and it would behoove of us to warm up to that big elephant," Bauman said.